Let's remove the current Coronavirus crisis from the equation for a moment. With Southwest's quest over the past several years to expand and diversify their business, would they ever consider starting a P2P subsidiary to connect their lower O&D markets as well as connect new cities to their network? Although G4 and F9 are attempting to get their feet wet in a few of these markets, there are countless O&Ds around the US with a distance of less than 400 miles that do not have nonstop service and require a circuitous connection through a legacy hub (ie. STL-IND, LIT-MSY, BNA-MEM, BHM-JAX, etc.). With these short stage lengths, would a turboprop like a ATR42-600 or ATR72-600 have more economic efficiencies than the WN mainline 737 fleet or Airbuses flown by G4 and F9? Does anyone have the numbers to compare the operating costs between the ATR42 and ATR72?

And the suggested name for this feeder airline? LUV Connection

Like the name? Hate the name? Like the idea? Hate the idea?

Pretty sure there are a number of businesses in a certain part of Amsterdam which won’t be happy about that name being used

I actually think that’s a really good idea thinking outside the box GK and friends shoul really look at getting a smaller aircraft and continue their legendary service on the smaller aircraft with two WN FAs and 2 WN pilots...(Call it what you want Luv connection, Luv express use something like the E175 Or something) Fly the 700s retire then as they see fit take 800s buys some 900s and maybe a longer range BOEING such as a 787 and make that Southwest and the ONE TYPE of RJ be the focus city point to point aircraft.. Think about it if Southwest has control of the regional airline it e will just be one airline and they’re able to control the culture, service, brand and truly grow to be a worldwide airline.

BMWdrvr75 wrote:

I actually think that’s a really good idea thinking outside the box GK and friends shoul really look at getting a smaller aircraft and continue their legendary service on the smaller aircraft with two WN FAs and 2 WN pilots...(Call it what you want Luv connection, Luv express use something like the E175 Or something) Fly the 700s retire then as they see fit take 800s buys some 900s and maybe a longer range BOEING such as a 787 and make that Southwest and the ONE TYPE of RJ be the focus city point to point aircraft.. Think about it if Southwest has control of the airline will just be one airline and they’re able to control the points on and make other ones that originals are controlled by different airlines.

Pipe dream most likely. I'm not an expert but probably wouldn't sit well with the unions.
My marketing and brand brain would say IF this happened the Southwest name would be incorporated, so something like Southwest (insert name here) name. I would love to see the EJETS be introduced but doubt it will happen. One can dream.

TWA302 wrote:

BMWdrvr75 wrote:

I actually think that’s a really good idea thinking outside the box GK and friends shoul really look at getting a smaller aircraft and continue their legendary service on the smaller aircraft with two WN FAs and 2 WN pilots...(Call it what you want Luv connection, Luv express use something like the E175 Or something) Fly the 700s retire then as they see fit take 800s buys some 900s and maybe a longer range BOEING such as a 787 and make that Southwest and the ONE TYPE of RJ be the focus city point to point aircraft.. Think about it if Southwest has control of the airline will just be one airline and they’re able to control the points on and make other ones that originals are controlled by different airlines.

Pipe dream most likely. I'm not an expert but probably wouldn't sit well with the unions.
My marketing and brand brain would say IF this happened the Southwest name would be incorporated, so something like Southwest (insert name here) name. I would love to see the EJETS be introduced but doubt it will happen. One can dream.

What about: LUV Connection by Southwest ?

I agree that there would need to be cooperation from the unions on this. The most important being that they (LUV Connection pilots, FAs) would need be on lower payscales to make it economically feasible and to make the operation a pathway to flow-though to Southwest mainline. It would also be essential to keep both operations separate and flying different nonstop city pairs, so that work is not being taken away from the mainline crews. Also, limiting LUV Connection's stage lengths to 400 miles would help in that endeavor.

Pilot contract won’t allow that. Now if they want to add some small planes to the southwest fleet and have southwest pilots fly them, then they can add whatever they want and paint express or connection or whatever name they want on the side. But it won’t be a subsidiary. It will just be another fleet type at SWA.

Why not LUV seat?

Antarius wrote:

Why not LUV seat?

Or LUV machine.

mattyfitzg wrote:

Antarius wrote:

Why not LUV seat?

Or LUV machine.

Terminal can be called the LUV Shack.

Maybe they can fly some B52s!!

Delta? I mean, how much more "South" can you get?

Oh god isn't it obvious what would happen?
You'd get every kinky travellers in the world aiming
to join the mile high club on every flight.
Remember a lot of RJ's only have one lav.
could cause issues.

Would Chuck Woolery provide the pre-flight video on LUV-connection?

jmc1975 wrote:

Let's remove the current Coronavirus crisis from the equation for a moment. With Southwest's quest over the past several years to expand and diversify their business, would they ever consider starting a P2P subsidiary to connect their lower O&D markets as well as connect new cities to their network? Although G4 and F9 are attempting to get their feet wet in a few of these markets, there are countless O&Ds around the US with a distance of less than 400 miles that do not have nonstop service and require a circuitous connection through a legacy hub (ie. STL-IND, LIT-MSY, BNA-MEM, BHM-JAX, etc.). With these short stage lengths, would a turboprop like a ATR42-600 or ATR72-600 have more economic efficiencies than the WN mainline 737 fleet or Airbuses flown by G4 and F9? Does anyone have the numbers to compare the operating costs between the ATR42 and ATR72?

There is just so much wrong with this.

The LUV stock symbol naming convention for Southwest isn't widely known outside the industry. LUV Connection will mean absolutely nothing, and will contribute nothing to the Southwest identity.

Several of the airport pairs you cite will be considered satisfactory markets for driving, not flying (and certainly not flying by business travelers without frequency). Even with about 800 CR2/E145 you don't see AA/DL/UA on those pairs BECAUSE THERE'S NO DEMAND at fares that earn a profit against the cost structure.

As mentioned, the pilot contract won't allow it. Small planes (ATR-42s?) at anything close to WN pilot and FA wages won't work.

WN isn't built as a hub-and-spoke model. They don't have the facilities or demand (at anywhere other than DEN) to run 400+ flights a day. Certainly not at MDW, DAL, BNA or ATL. Hubs without frequency in short-haul and medium-haul markets are poor, inefficient, low-yield hubs.

Props are dead in the U.S. passenger market. Dead, dead, dead. You might as well try to get passengers to spread dog poop on their morning toast.

It wouldn't work unless you get some extra lavs

jmc1975 wrote:

What about: LUV Connection by Southwest ?

That's backwards. That's saying Southwest is flying a connection service for LUV. It would have to be "Southwest Connection by __________."

MIflyer12 wrote:

Props are dead in the U.S. passenger market. Dead, dead, dead. You might as well try to get passengers to spread dog poop on their morning toast.

Really? How about QX, 9K, 3M...?

This concept almost happened back in 2009 ish.. Was very close to a done deal then when they approached the SWA pilots union. They said Nope Scope!! I could see SWA diversifying there aircraft type. Maybe E195’s A220’s. But Flown by SWA pilots..

amcnd wrote:

This concept almost happened back in 2009 ish.. Was very close to a done deal then when they approached the SWA pilots union. They said Nope Scope!! I could see SWA diversifying there aircraft type. Maybe E195’s A220’s. But Flown by SWA pilots..

If it was “close to a done deal” they would have included the pilots up front. It was never as close as you make it out to be.

LUVBug ... planes painted like ladybugs that hop around. AMA-OKC-TUL-LIT-MEM-MSY-TPA-FLL

It would be great, so they can charge for baggage fees and change fees and it won't affect Southwest's brand.

I would say Southwest Connection eventually, providing feeder to FAT, MSN, FNT, other small destinations to MDW, BWI, etc. E175s would be a good bet. Would it be within a pilot clause to outsource to Skywest or Republic?